Inspired by the folk art traditions of quilting and sewing bees, the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt is an international symbol of the fight against AIDS. Begun as a response to the growing number of deaths and the widespread misinformation about HIV and AIDS, the Quilt is composed of thousands of fabric panels, each bearing the name of someone who has succumbed to the disease. Panels are created by friends, lovers, and families of those lost, and then stitched together by volunteers into the ever-growing Quilt. Hundreds of Quilt displays occur each year around the United States and throughout the world. More than a way to remember those who have died, the Quilt serves as a tool for educating people who are still at risk. Recognizing this strength, The NAMES Project National High School Quilt Program is working with high schools across the country to display sections of the Quilt in an effort to teach students about the AIDS epidemic. The entire Quilt has been displayed in Washington, D.C., on four occasions, and received numerous awards. In 1993, Quilt panels were carried in President Clinton’s Inaugural Parade and displayed at the White House on December 1, World AIDS Day.